Last year, NHS hospitals pocketed £174million from patients, visitors and staff - up six per cent on the previous year.

Tory MP Robert Halfon, who is campaigning for the scrappage backed by the RAC and MacMillan Cancer Support charity, said: "These parking fees are a stealth tax on patients, on the vulnerable, including the the elderly and disabled, on visitors, and on staff.

"We say that he NHS is free, yet people with cars seem to have to pay."

Parents of children with cancer spend up to £50 a week on hospital parking while treatment for other conditions is also eye-wateringly high.